Meditation classes for pupils?

Tuesday 13 January 2009 00:02 BST

Proposals have been put forward to open two academies that specialise in meditation, it has been reported.

Derek Cassells, head of the private Maharishi School in Ormskirk, Lancashire, the only specialist transcendental meditation (TM) school in the country, is understood to have had discussions with the Government about sponsoring two academies.

Mr Cassells told the Times Educational Supplement (TES): "At the moment we have just one small school, but I'm certain transcendental meditation can work on a bigger scale. The key factor is that the meditation brings balance to the nervous system. This leads to greater creativity, intelligence and harmony, and better behaviour."

Pupils attending the proposed academies would take part in two 10-minute meditation sessions a day, which would involve them sitting quietly at their desks with their eyes closed.

The meditation is not linked to any religion, and children of all faiths would be admitted to the schools.

Mr Cassells, who has trained several teachers in the TM technique, said work to set up a charitable trust to sponsor the academies was under way.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said it had yet to receive a formal expression of interest from the Maharishi School.

She said: "There are a range of criteria that are used to consider potential sponsors, the main one being whether they will be able to raise standards. The Academies programme has room for a diverse range of philosophies."